Getting Here New York City Is Served by Seven Area Airports
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Getting Here New York City is served by seven area airports. Of these, three are major hubs: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) are both in Queens, while Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is located in neighboring New Jersey. Other metropolitan-area airports include Stewart International Airport (SWF), Westchester County Airport (HPN) and MacArthur Airport (ISP). The City’s three major airports provide easy access to the City via taxis, buses, vans, subways, trains and private limo and car services. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Jamaica, Queens | jfkairport.com | +1.718.244.4444 JFK is 15 miles from Midtown Manhattan. It handles the most international traffic of any airport in the United States—over 450,000 flights and 60 million passengers annually. More than 70 airlines serve its six passenger terminals. Getting to Manhattan from JFK • Taxi: the flat-rate fare is $52 (excluding surcharges, tolls and gratuity); 50–60 minutes to/from Midtown. +1.212.NYC.TAXI (692.8294) • Subway: $7.75 ($5 for AirTrain JFK and $2.75 for subway); 60–75 minutes to Midtown Manhattan on the A subway line at the Howard Beach–JFK Airport station, or the E, J, Z subway lines and Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) train at the Sutphin Blvd./Archer Ave. station. • Train: $5 AirTrain JFK connects to LIRR Jamaica Station, $10.25 peak/$7.50 off-peak train to Penn Station (NOTE: $6 surcharge for tickets purchased on board train). On Saturday and Sunday, the fare to Penn Station is $4.25. The trip to Penn Station is 20 minutes (not including AirTrain ride). • Public bus: $2.75 (with free transfer to subway line into Manhattan); 60–75 minutes to Midtown. The Q3 bus at JFK connects to the F subway line, the B15 connects to the 3 line, and the Q10 bus connects to the E and F lines. • Private bus and van companies: from $16–20. • Higher prices for private limo car services. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) Flushing, Queens | laguardiaairport.com | +1.718.533.3400 LaGuardia is on the northern shore of Queens and is the closest airport to Midtown Manhattan at about eight miles away. It handles domestic and international air traffic, with over 370,000 flights and 30 million passengers annually. Its four passenger terminals serve 11 airlines. Getting to Manhattan from LaGuardia • Taxi: Metered fare is approximately $30–50 (excluding surcharges, tolls and gratuity); 30 minutes to/ from Midtown. +1.212.NYC.TAXI (692.8294). • Public bus: fare is $2.75 for the Select Bus Service M60 between LaGuardia and Manhattan’s Upper West Side (106th Street and Broadway), with stops at all major Manhattan subway lines (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, B, C, D); 45–60 minutes. The express Q70 bus goes to the 82nd St./Jackson Heights subway station (for the 7 subway line) and the Jackson Heights/Roosevelt Ave. subway station (for 7, E, F, M or R lines); add 15–20 minutes for the subway ride. • Private bus and van companies: $13–20. • Higher prices for private limo car services. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) Newark | newarkairport.com | +1.888.EWR.INFO (397.4636) Newark Liberty handles some 450,000 flights and 46 million passengers annually and is served by more than 37 international and domestic carriers. The airport is across the Hudson River from New York City, 16 miles and 45–60 minutes from Midtown Manhattan. Getting to Manhattan from Newark Liberty: • Taxi: Service to Midtown is permitted only via New Jersey–regulated taxis. Metered fares range $60– 75 (excluding surcharges, tolls and gratuity). Seniors (ages 62 and older) receive a 10% discount. Newark Taxi Commission, +1.973.733.8912; Elizabeth Taxi Commission, +1.908.820.4000, ext. 4178. NOTE: When traveling to Newark Liberty from Midtown, taxi service is via NYC’s regulated taxis. Metered fares range $69–75 (excluding surcharges, tolls and gratuity). +1.212.NYC.TAXI (692.8294). • Train: AirTrain Newark is free between EWR terminals. Purchase a flat-rate $12.50 ticket for a connection on an NJ Transit or Amtrak train into New York’s Penn Station. Note: Retain your $12.50 receipt to show to conductors on each train connection. • Private bus and van companies: $16–20. • Higher prices for private limo car services. Other Ways to Get Here In addition to nearby airports, New York City is easily accessible via an extensive network of bridges, tunnels, ferries, trains, light rail, buses, heliports and even cruise ports. Driving to the City is an option, but you certainly won’t need a car to get around. Getting Around New York City The best way to get around NYC is through a combination of walking and the City’s energy-efficient 24/7 mass transit system. NYC’s subways and buses are operated by the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority). The system is inexpensive, provides a fun way to extend sightseeing—and it gets you where you need to go. Other interborough connections include a recently expanded ferry system and even an aerial tramway. Getting an MTA MetroCard is your first step to navigating the City by subway or bus. A MetroCard is required to enter the subway system, while exact change (no dollar bills) or a MetroCard can be used on buses. You can purchase a MetroCard at any subway station from multilingual machines (which accept cash and credit and debit cards) or booth attendants. Riders have three options for fare payment; a single-ride ticket, a pay-per-ride MetroCard or an unlimited-ride MetroCard. There is a $1 fee to purchase a MetroCard so be sure to retain it (and check the expiration date on the back of the card—the MTA will issue a new MetroCard for no charge if your card has expired or is damaged). A single-ride ticket costs $3, is sold only at vending machines and must be used within two hours of purchase. With a pay-per- ride MetroCard, the base fare for a subway or bus ride is $2.75; minimum purchase is $5.50, maximum is $80. An unlimited MetroCard enables users to ride all subways and buses as often as they like and costs $33 for seven days or $127 for 30 days. Additional discounts are available for seniors age 65 and older and disabled riders. For a map of New York City’s subway and bus system, click here. NYC Taxis The City’s fleet of taxicabs is regulated by the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC). Taxicabs operate 24 hours, provide door-to-door service and accept cash or credit cards. The City’s famous yellow fleet is primarily seen throughout Midtown but can be hailed for trips to other boroughs and even to other states. NYC’s apple-green Boro Taxis can pick up passengers in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens (excluding the airports) and Staten Island, plus northern Manhattan (north of West 110th Street and East 96th Street); they are not authorized to pick up any trips elsewhere in Manhattan. To hail a taxi, stand at the curb and look for a yellow cab with an illuminated white number on top. Off-duty cabs display the illuminated words “Off Duty” on the same sign. Board and exit the cab curbside. For yellow or green taxis, there is a minimum meter fare of $3, and prices increase based on the distance and duration of the trip (assume prices are higher during peak rush-hour traffic). Surcharges apply to the meter price. Drivers appreciate a 15–20 percent gratuity at the end of a trip. Bridge and tunnel tolls are not included in the taxi’s metered fare. For further details, visit nyc.gov/taxi or call +1.212.NEW.YORK (639.9675) from outside the City or 311 when in town. Weather New York City weather can vary from day to day, and even morning to afternoon, but a guide to the seasons can help you plan your wardrobe. Spring (March–May) in New York City brings light winds and rain, with the season’s temperatures ranging from cool to very warm. Summer (June–August) is characterized by bright, sunny, hot days and later sunsets, sometimes accompanied by cool breezes in areas near the water. The fall season (September–November) is cool and crisp, so it’s wise to wear layers. The winter months (December–February) are cold and snowy with less daylight, though the weather is often clear. Time Zone New York City is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time minus five hours during daylight saving time, from March through November, and minus six hours the rest of the year). Check here for the current date and time in NYC. International Visitors If you’re visiting New York City from outside the United States, you may need a visa to enter the country. For details, visit the US State Department’s visa information website. Tipping Guidelines • Hotel doorman: $1 for hailing a cab • Porters and bellhops: $1–2 per bag • Housekeeping: As much as $5 per day • Waitstaff and bartenders: 15–20 percent of total bill • Taxi drivers: 15–20 percent of total fare • Tips for other service personnel, such as theater ushers, tour guides and coat-check staff, are always appreciated. It’s worth noting that if you’re having drinks at a bar, bartenders typically expect at least a $1 tip for every drink they serve you. Later, when the bar gets crowded, you’ll be glad that the bartender remembers you! Special-Service Needs New York City is committed to ensuring accessibility for everyone with special needs, and has equipped all buses with lifts for those in wheelchairs and those who have difficulty climbing stairs.